Western Governors University
Vice President, External Communications
Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84106
If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
Apply (by clicking the relevant button) after checking through all the related job information below.Current WGU employees should submit an internal application before 8/14/2024 to be considered.Position Overview
The Vice President of External Communications is WGU's senior-most communications executive and has responsibility for developing and executing strategies to protect and advance the university's reputation with a range of external audiences (e.g., policymakers, donors/philanthropists, current/prospective partners, thought leaders, media). This individual oversees a core team that drives WGU's public relations, content and thought leadership, owned social media, and conferences and events. In this role, the Vice President coordinates closely with c-suite executives, Offices of the President and the Provost, executive deans of WGU's academic schools, and senior leaders within MarCom and a range of teams and sub-entities across the WGU ecosystem; an ability to collaboratively develop strategy, lead through influence, and win support for major communications initiatives is critical.Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Inspire and develop a team of communications professionals, including Director-level direct reports and people leaders across the Earned Media & PR, Content, Social Media, and Conferences & Events functions.Coordinate planning for a $10M+ annual budget in collaboration with senior leadership to execute critical Communications initiatives and achieve University growth and cost efficiency targets, including specific audience, geographic market, and academic program goals.Oversee development of multi-year university and department strategic communications plans that contribute to core university objectives, particularly related to expanding access to education for strategic audiences like low-income, rural, first-generation, and historically underserved learners.Implement a proactive reputation management and press relations program to favorably position the university and leadership within the trade, business, and general press.Build relationships with high-profile external partners in the service of advancing WGU's reputation.Guide the university in developing crisis communications approaches and managing individual incidents in coordination with University leadership.Provide strategic communications counsel to cross-organizational leadership and partner with other communications and marketing leaders to ensure alignment, coordination, and a cohesive narrative.Guide team to develop and build buy-in for university-wide communications standards and calendars, including for owned social media, content (blogs/newsletters), events, and media engagement opportunities.Lead externally-facing university events, including higher education conferences (e.g., ASU/GSV, SXSW EDU) and school-aligned industry events.Establish objective annual goals and drive a performance-oriented culture of individual accountability, particularly related to brand health and engagement with key audiences; design and develop processes and standards to effectively monitor and analyze communications campaigns and efforts.Contribute to establishing and disseminating brand and messaging frameworks that define positioning, attributes, and proof points that communicate powerfully with WGU's B2C and B2B audiences.Build relationships of trust and collaboration across the Outreach team (Marketing Communications, Regional Operations, Government Relations, etc.) and with cross-university partners, including C-level executives, SVPs, and communications professionals of all levels across: Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Academic Schools, WGU Labs, WGU Academy, and other departments.Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:
Significant experience developing and executing comprehensive corporate communications, content and messaging, and public relations programs across various deliverables and audiences.History of significantly elevating brand reputation and successfully positioning organizations as leaders within their industry.Demonstrated ability to develop and achieve cross-functional strategic communications plans, key objectives, and measurable KPIs.High-energy, strategic thinker with exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, the ability to foster collaborative decision-making, and strong relationship-building skills.Proven collaborator with a track record of executing complex projects involving cross-functional teams.Skilled writer and editor with outstanding attention to detail; experience crafting and editing high-quality strategic communications.Able to make decisions and drive business forward in a highly complex, multi-faceted organization.Experience working across marketing and communications disciplines, including brand development, creative, owned and earned media, and large-scale conferences and events. Must be a well-rounded communications professional.Qualifications: Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree15+ years progressively increasing communications roles8+ years in a people leadership roleMastery of earned and owned media, eventsPreferred Qualifications:
Prior experience in the Higher Education industry and knowledge of workforce domains relevant to WGU's schools (e.g., technology, K12 education, healthcare)Master's degreeWorking Conditions:
This role is based in WGU's Salt Lake City office and requires 3+ days of in-office work per week.Travel Requirements:
Travel up to 20% to support conference and events may be required.Application Information:
WGU will accept applications for this position until 12:00 AM ET, 08/18/2024. How to apply: apply online.Full-time Regular Positions (FT classification, standard working hours = 40). This is a full-time, regular position that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.The University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
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Apply (by clicking the relevant button) after checking through all the related job information below.Current WGU employees should submit an internal application before 8/14/2024 to be considered.Position Overview
The Vice President of External Communications is WGU's senior-most communications executive and has responsibility for developing and executing strategies to protect and advance the university's reputation with a range of external audiences (e.g., policymakers, donors/philanthropists, current/prospective partners, thought leaders, media). This individual oversees a core team that drives WGU's public relations, content and thought leadership, owned social media, and conferences and events. In this role, the Vice President coordinates closely with c-suite executives, Offices of the President and the Provost, executive deans of WGU's academic schools, and senior leaders within MarCom and a range of teams and sub-entities across the WGU ecosystem; an ability to collaboratively develop strategy, lead through influence, and win support for major communications initiatives is critical.Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Inspire and develop a team of communications professionals, including Director-level direct reports and people leaders across the Earned Media & PR, Content, Social Media, and Conferences & Events functions.Coordinate planning for a $10M+ annual budget in collaboration with senior leadership to execute critical Communications initiatives and achieve University growth and cost efficiency targets, including specific audience, geographic market, and academic program goals.Oversee development of multi-year university and department strategic communications plans that contribute to core university objectives, particularly related to expanding access to education for strategic audiences like low-income, rural, first-generation, and historically underserved learners.Implement a proactive reputation management and press relations program to favorably position the university and leadership within the trade, business, and general press.Build relationships with high-profile external partners in the service of advancing WGU's reputation.Guide the university in developing crisis communications approaches and managing individual incidents in coordination with University leadership.Provide strategic communications counsel to cross-organizational leadership and partner with other communications and marketing leaders to ensure alignment, coordination, and a cohesive narrative.Guide team to develop and build buy-in for university-wide communications standards and calendars, including for owned social media, content (blogs/newsletters), events, and media engagement opportunities.Lead externally-facing university events, including higher education conferences (e.g., ASU/GSV, SXSW EDU) and school-aligned industry events.Establish objective annual goals and drive a performance-oriented culture of individual accountability, particularly related to brand health and engagement with key audiences; design and develop processes and standards to effectively monitor and analyze communications campaigns and efforts.Contribute to establishing and disseminating brand and messaging frameworks that define positioning, attributes, and proof points that communicate powerfully with WGU's B2C and B2B audiences.Build relationships of trust and collaboration across the Outreach team (Marketing Communications, Regional Operations, Government Relations, etc.) and with cross-university partners, including C-level executives, SVPs, and communications professionals of all levels across: Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Academic Schools, WGU Labs, WGU Academy, and other departments.Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:
Significant experience developing and executing comprehensive corporate communications, content and messaging, and public relations programs across various deliverables and audiences.History of significantly elevating brand reputation and successfully positioning organizations as leaders within their industry.Demonstrated ability to develop and achieve cross-functional strategic communications plans, key objectives, and measurable KPIs.High-energy, strategic thinker with exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, the ability to foster collaborative decision-making, and strong relationship-building skills.Proven collaborator with a track record of executing complex projects involving cross-functional teams.Skilled writer and editor with outstanding attention to detail; experience crafting and editing high-quality strategic communications.Able to make decisions and drive business forward in a highly complex, multi-faceted organization.Experience working across marketing and communications disciplines, including brand development, creative, owned and earned media, and large-scale conferences and events. Must be a well-rounded communications professional.Qualifications: Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree15+ years progressively increasing communications roles8+ years in a people leadership roleMastery of earned and owned media, eventsPreferred Qualifications:
Prior experience in the Higher Education industry and knowledge of workforce domains relevant to WGU's schools (e.g., technology, K12 education, healthcare)Master's degreeWorking Conditions:
This role is based in WGU's Salt Lake City office and requires 3+ days of in-office work per week.Travel Requirements:
Travel up to 20% to support conference and events may be required.Application Information:
WGU will accept applications for this position until 12:00 AM ET, 08/18/2024. How to apply: apply online.Full-time Regular Positions (FT classification, standard working hours = 40). This is a full-time, regular position that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.The University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
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